Saudi consulate in Iran reportedly set on fire by protesters

Tehran, Jan 3 (IANS) Iranian protesters against the execution of a Shia leader by Saudi Arabia set parts of Saudi consulate in fire in Iran’s northeastern religious city of Mashhad on Saturday, Tabnak news website reported.

The move came after the Saudi Interior Ministry announced on Saturday that 47 people, including the prominent Shia leader Nimr al-Nimr, were executed on terrorist charges.

The protesters gathered in front of the Saudi consulate and chanted slogans against the Arab state’s authorities, according to the report.

They pulled down the flag of Saudi Arabia from the building of the consulate and throw handmade crackers which caused fire in part of the building, it said.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian conveyed the strong protest of Islamic republic to the Saudi envoy, Ahmed al-Muwallid, over what he called the “irresponsible behaviour” of the Saudi officials in this regard, according to the state TV.